Corner paint roller

ABSTRACT

A paint roller head is composed of a rigid skeletal core embedded in a resilient molded plastic body having an annularly ridged periphery and a pile cover fitting snugly over and substantially completely enclosing the head. Such head is demountably carried on a cantilever axle integral with the shank of a handle having one portion which extends substantially centrally radially of the head and a dogleg portion connecting such radial portion and the axle root.

United States Patent Christensen et al.

[ 1 May 16, 1972 CORNER PAINT ROLLER Inventors: Robert S. Christensen, Mountlake Terrace; Richard D. Johnson, Seattle, both of Wash.

Richard D. Johnson, Seattle, Wash. by said Robert S. Christensen Filed: July 22, 1970 Appl. No: 57,274

Assignee:

US. Cl ..l5/230.ll, 15/230.18, 29/122 Int. Cl ..B44d 3/28 Field of Search ...l5/27, 230, 230.11, 230.16, l5/230.18, 230.19, 235; 29/1 10.5, 120, 122; 401/9, 197, 218, 219

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS l/1951 Guimond ..15/230.l 1 11/1961 Crane 8/1961 Moilanen 10/1881 Buzzell ..15/230 UX 1,522,056 III 925 Hanson 15/230. 1 8 3,159,905 12/1964 Baggett ..15/230.1l X

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 571,661 10/1958 Belgium 15/230. 11 856,480 3/1940 France 1 5/230 A67,56l lO/1957 France ..15/230.1 1 519,411 5/1953 Belgium... .15/230.l 1 1,112,091 ll/l955 France ..l5/230.11

Primary Examiner-Daniel Blum Att0rneyRobert W. Beach [5 7] ABSTRACT A paint roller head is composed of a rigid skeletal core embedded in a resilient molded plastic body having an annularly ridged periphery and a pile cover fitting snugly over and sub stantially completely enclosing the head. Such head is demountably carried on a cantilever axle integral with the shank of a handle having one portion which extends substantially centrally radially of the head and a dogleg portion connecting such radial portion and the axle root.

1 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures CORNER PAINT ROLLER A principal object of the invention is to provide a roller for applying paint conveniently to reentrant corners formed by two intersecting planes, which is of durable, yet economical construction, and is readily demountable. More specifically, it is an object to provide such a paint roller having a pile cover for the roller, which will cover the roller substantially completely, yet which can be removed for cleaning or replacement.

Another object is to provide a construction for such a roller head which includes a rigid core for mounting the roller stably, embedded in a resilient body sufficiently yieldable to facilitate application of the cover to the body. An associated object is to integrate the core and body so that they cannot become separated. More specifically, it is an object to provide a skeletal core molded of rigid plastic about which the resilient plastic material of the body can be molded in interlocking relationship to the skeletal core.

A further object is to provide a handle for the roller which will enable the roller to be manipulated easily and accurately while affording ample clearance between the roller head and the handle shank.

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of the corner roller, and FIG. 2 is an elevation of such roller taken perpendicular to the elevation of FIG. 1 and having parts broken away.

FIG. 3 is a diametral section through the roller head.

FIG. 4 is a top perspective of the head-mounting axle and interior components of the head shown in exploded relationship.

FIG. 5 is a top perspective of the head cover turned inside out and viewed from one side. FIG. 6 is a top perspective of the head cover turned inside out viewed from the opposite side.

As shown best in FIG. 1, the edge profile of the paint roller head 1 is generally elliptical, whereas FIG. 2 shows the side profile of the head to be circular. Such head is carried by the shank 2 of a handle by being rotatively mounted on the axle 3 extending in cantilever fashion from one end of the handle shank in a direction transversely of such shank. In order to enable the roller to be handled and manipulated conveniently, the portion of the handle shank remote from the roller is shown as extending radially of the roller and disposed substantially centrally of the roller.

Ample clearance is provided between the handle shank and the roller head by forming the portion 4 of such shank connecting the radial portion and the root of axle 3 of dogleg shape displaced away from the roller. The offset of such dogleg portion is greater than the offset between the root of the axle 3 and the portion of the handle shank extending radially ofthe roller.

On the end of the handle shank remote from the axle 3 is a handle grip 5 which can be of hard plastic material molded in place on the end of the handle shank. Such shank end may have lugs projecting from it for anchoring the handle grip. In the end of such grip opposite the shank 2 is an internally threaded cavity 6 into which the externally threaded end of an extension stick or pole may be screwed.

The internal structure of the head is shown best in FIGS. 3 and 4. A central hard skeletal core preferably is formed of molded plastic material and preferably is constructed of two identical sections 7 which can be interfitted. Each of these sections includes a circular base plate 8 from which project spacer projections 9 tapered away from the base plate and spaced diametrally of it. A joint socket 10 is formed in the tip of each projection. Two additional tapered projections 11 are also located in spaced diametral relationship and between the projections 9. A dowel 12 of a size to fit into a socket 10 projects from the tip of each projection 11.

As indicated by a comparison of FIGS. 3 and 4, the two skeletal core sections 7 are assembled with the tips of projections 9 of one section abutting the tips of projections 11 of the other section so that the dowels 12 of each section are fitted into the sockets 10 of the other section. The base plates 8 are then disposed in spaced parallel relationship. When thus assembled, apertures 13 in the centers of the base plate 8 will be aligned to receive through them the free end of the axle 3.

Each base plate 8 of the skeletal core sections 7 also has apertures 14 through it disposed eccentrically of the central aperture 13 and located between the projections 9 and 11 through which plastic may pass in molding the roller body. Axial movement of a core aperture 13 onto the axle 3 is limited by lugs 15 projecting radially outward from the axle at a location spaced from its free end. Such lugs are engageable by a thrust washer 16 inserted between the lugs and the adjacent base plate 8 of the roller core. The roller is held in place on the axle by a U-shaped resilient clip 17 engageable in an annular groove 18 adjacent to the free end of the cantilever axle 3.

The roller cover 19 shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 is of circular cross section and has opposite convex sides 20 and 21 secured together by a circumferential seam 22. The cover is made of fleece material which can either be natural sheepskin or can be synthetic material. In either case, the side 20 of the cover is continuous and has a central portion that is fuller than the periphery so that, when the cover is turned inside out as shown in FIG. 5, such side will bulge adjacent to the periphery. This side of the cover will cover the side of the rotor remote from the root of axle 3 and the free end of such axle.

The surface of the cover has pile 23 which can become filled with paint or soiled or worn. Consequently, it is desirable to be able to remove the cover from the roller body reasonably easily for cleaning or replacement. For this purpose, the side 21 of the cover can be opened by providing in its central portion a branched slotted aperture 24. Such aperture includes a plurality of radial slots meeting at the center of the side, three of such radial branch slot portions being shown in FIG. 6. Such slot portions terminate at locations spaced from the periphery of the cover and form sectors between them. Eyelets or grommets 25 are provided in the sector apexes between the radial slot branches.

The body of the roller over which the cover is applied is shown best in FIG. 3 as including a circumferential portion 26 having a centrally ridged periphery. Such body is made of resilient polyurethane plastic material molded around the skeletal core sections 7. Preferably the projections 9 and 11 of such core sections are hollow so that plastic material 27 may go into and set in the interiors of such projections. Also, the apertures 14 will enable the plastic material to flow through the spaced plates to form an annulus 28 of resilient plastic material between the base plates 8 immediately around the axle 3.

Because the cover 19 is of limp material, it can be stretched over and will conform generally to the shape of the exterior of the roller body. It is preferred, however, that such body be easily deformable by being of resilient foam plastic material, such as polyurethane, so that the body can be deformed as may be necessary to facilitate its passage through the opening in the side 21 of the cover and tucking of the periphery of the body into the circumferential pocket of the cover. When the cover has been fitted snugly onto the body as shown in FIG. 3, a lace 29 can be threaded successively through the several grommets 25 and drawn tight to pull the apexes of the cover sectors through which the grommets extend into closely adjacent relationship and close to the axle 3.

The paint roller is readily demountable. By loosening or removing the ace 29, the branched slot 24 can be opened widely to enable the cover to be peeled readily off the roller body and expose the free end of the axle 3. The retaining clip 17 can then be pried out of the axle groove 18 so that the roller head can be slid ofi the axle to the right as seen in FIG. 3. To reassemble the roller, the roller head can be slipped onto the axle and secured by placing the clip 17 in the groove 18. The cover 19 can then be stretched over the roller body and secured in place by pulling the lace 29 tight and tying it.

We claim:

1. A corner-painting roller comprising an elongated handle shank, an axle carried by said handle shank, and a head mounted on said axle including a rigid core of skeletal structure through which said axle extends, a resilient body molded around said core and having a peripheral ridge and a removable pile cover fitted snugly over said body, said core including plate means having an aperture therethrough for receiving plastic material of said molded body locking together said core and said body. 

1. A corner-painting roller comprising an elongated handle shank, an axle carried by said handle shank, and a head mounted on said axle including a rigid core of skeletal structure through which said axle extends, a resilient body molded around said core and having a peripheral ridge and a removable pile cover fitted snugly over said body, said core including plate means having an aperture therethrough for receiving plastic material of said molded body locking together said core and said body. 